Raiders revert, and it hurts

The same team that went into its bye week at 5-4 and full of hope is either a shell of itself or has simply reverted to what it has been starting in 2003.

The Raiders were out-blocked, out-tackled and blacked out. They were inferior in both the passing game and the running game. Had it not been for Jacoby Ford and and a couple of early Miami failures in the red zone, a 33-17 loss to the Dolphins Sunday at the Coliseum would have been _ and probably should have been _ much worse.

If you’re looking for some positive reinforcement, check out another site. Having had no problem saying how good the Raiders have been during their three-game winning streak, putting flowers on this pig is not an option.

News, notes and observations from the Raiders’ most disappointing game of the season:

— Even up to the time when press box announcers are supposed to announce lineup changes, Jason Campbell was the alleged starter. Asked a media-relations member and was told, “We have no changes to announce.”

If only the Raiders could only get over on an opponent the way they did with the media. What an incredible waste of time for a team that claims to put all its emphasis on winning to act in such a moronic fashion.

Sure fooled everyone with that Bruce Gradkowski switch. Gradkowski said he learned he was starting “at the beginning of the week.” Campbell said he found out Tuesday. Cable said he realized Gradkowski would start Wednesday once he was 100 percent healthy.

Because, you know, it was always going to be Gradkowski’s job once he was healthy. Cable has contradicted himself on this several times, but no matter. Coaches aren’t obligated to tell the media the truth except when it suits their purposes, and now that Gradkowski is hurt, it doesn’t really matter.

Not that it was handled with aplomb. If the Raiders were actually trying to go out of their way to look ridiculous, they couldn’t have done any better.

It’s apparent Gradkowski (surprise!) is down for awhile, re-injuring his throwing shoulder. He didn’t want to talk about or think about it, but said it felt like it did following the first San Diego game. And he returned five weeks later.

So now Campbell is back in the saddle, unless Kyle Boller is warming up in the bullpen. I heard second-hand Sunday night the reason Campbell was benched is that he’s not right for the Raiders as currently constituted, considering his issues with a pass rush and the club’s problems at wide receiver.

— Campbell wasn’t pretending to understand the double-talk, on one hand being told Gradkowski would get the job when healthy, and on the other hand still getting the start against Pittsburgh.

“My thing was in the Pittsburgh game, well, he was healthy,” Campbell said.

— Behind the scenes, the Raiders are fighting the perception that Campbell is the favorite of Al Davis, while Gradkowski is preferred by Cable and Hue Jackson.

“You’re a competitor and you like to compete, but by no means are you understanding or anything,” Campbell said. “It’s kind of tough because you’re caught right in between something and you don’t know what’s going on.”

Must be all that great communication Cable has talked about with his quarterback.

— Darren McFadden has fallen and he can’t get up.

In the last two games, McFadden, who has looked every bit the No. 4 overall pick in 2008, has 16 yards on 18 carries. Yes, there are issues with the offensive line. Privately, the coaching staff is concerned that he’s not running as he did before.

“If teams are smart, if they have good defensive coordinators, they are going to load up against the run when they play us,” Walker said.

— The more Jacoby Ford does, the more damning it is for Darrius Heyward-Bey.

Telling moment _ Gradkowski has Heyward-Bey in single coverage on his left, with the safety drifting cheating toward the middle. He sees this, drops back, and lets fly a deep pass down the right sideline toward Marcel Reece. It is intercepted by Yeremiah Bell. Gradkowski said he was giving Reece a chance, given what he’s shown as a playmaker. He never considered Heyward-Bey even after he saw the coverage.

Reece is an intriguing but undrafted wide receiver turned tight end turned fullback. Heyward-Bey is the No. 7 overall pick in the 2009 draft and the alleged deep threat of the future.

The coaching staff is starting to reduce Heyward-Bey’s time on the field. He had far fewer snaps than normal and when asked if Heyward-Bey was still nursing a sore hamstring, Cable said it was simply a factor of the wide receiver rotation.

Not sure if another Raiders receiver is capable of making the 44-yard touchdown grab from Gradkowski, smoothly hauling it in while turning to his left and stradding the sideline for the score. He later repeated his magic act of taking an interception away from a defender with his 52-yard reception to set up a field goal.

— Davone Bess of the Dolphins caught six passes for 116 yards, had three punt returns for 60 yards with a long of 47, and the Raiders had no interest in him as an undrafted free agent. He went to Skyline High, grew up within sight distance of the Coliseum and was a big fan of Tim Brown.

Bess doesn’t have the 40-yard dash time Al Davis prefers, but his skills as a receiver are off the charts. He had subtle pushoffs on at least two catches worthy of a 10-year veteran.

“I’m excited to come home and get to play in front of my home city, my family, my friends, all my close ones that supported me through this,” Bess said. “Just to get the W, that’s my focus. Just get the win.”

— It was almost comical to see the Raiders go into damage control mode, with players getting serious briefings about what to say and not to say if scheduled to take the podium. Players shrug their heads at this later and laugh when it’s brought up informally.

— Zach Miller is confirming that is original “arch injury” was a torn plantar fascia, a very slow-to-heal condition. He hurt his right leg later in the game. Cable called it a “fibula” injury. Miller caught one pass for six yards and is currently a shell of himself.

— When winning, every move a coach makes seems to work out, and then you have Walter McFadden.

McFadden had a good week of practice following a game in which Jeremy Ware got poor reviews from coaches against Pittsburgh. So McFadden was the nickel back, but for some reason, Ware was inactive even though Chris Johnson was out with a groin strain and Nnamdi Asomugha was playing with an ankle injury.

McFadden got torched for five catches and 113 yards, including four third down conversions and another on third down because of a defensive holding penalty. Asomugha, who had given up five catches for 87 yards all season, gave up four receptions for 65 yards and also had a holding penalty resulting in a Miami first down. He conceded afterward he couldn’t plant and turn _ sort of a prerequisite for playing cornerback.

With Ware inactive, it’s not like Asomugha had any choice but to stay in the game.

Cable may be liked by the players, and work well with Davis, but, he is not a good head coach. It doesn’t matter, though, until Al hands over the keys to a real general manager, who will hire a or be a real coach. If Al were sane, he would give Cower, Gruden, or Parcells anything they wanted.

Thec07

RaiderRockstar Says:
November 29th, 2010 at 9:27 am
DHB is a #4 WR and Murphy is a #5. Ford should be the slot guy, so we need a #1 and #2.

The Raiders have always had the speed WRs, but they have also had a possession WR at the same time. Now, they don’t have that. The Raiders desperately need anyone who can catch the damn ball in traffic, and who is not 5,9.

mistic1

# bcz24 Says:
November 29th, 2010 at 8:00 am

Gradkowski apologist are predictably silent this after that pathetic display
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No Mistic. You just dont get it. The Gradkowski versus Campbell debate ONLY rages on in your head. Everyone else here just wants the Raiders to win. You HAVE to keep saying ‘I told ya so’. Get over it dude. BOTH qbs SUCK!

BOTH.QBS.SUCK.
Get over it.
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What campbell vs. grdas debate? This has nothing to do with any so called debate. This is not about our qb’s at all. just as I said last week, cable has painted himself into a corner and proven to be a fraud. he fooled you into believing that the problem is qb play. he said it last year, and he said it this year. His pet project has flopped miserably. His offensive line has failed to protect the qb’s and have been average run blockers in some games and terrible in others.

The fact that Campbell is a better qb is a moot point at this juncture.

Thec07

Jacoby Ford = Steve Smith (Panthers) without the attitude & injuries

+++++++++++=

No way…steve smith is a way better teammate…JFORD is overated….. We should cut him, and sign charles schallens….

Can we finally throw Bruce C. in there for at least 3 running plays. Want to see what he has to offer.

mistic1

# exlaraiderseasonticketholder Says:
November 29th, 2010 at 8:17 am

IMHO, Bruce is a better QB than Campbell for this team. What I find disturbing as a team player, he did not inform the trainer of being reinjured during the game. Grads should have taken himself out. The reinjury would explain the wobbly pass picked in the end zone. No excuses though, Bruce did the wrong thing.
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Laughable! Bruce’s t rex arm explains that wobbly throw. That is exactly who has been for his entire nfl career.

Cables hand picked players are complete flops across the board. The cable gradkowski connection has been irrevocably and utterly exposed for the circus freak show that it is. You cant flim flam Davis, and heads are gonna roll.

DMAC

# Raider O Says:
November 29th, 2010 at 9:42 am

RR,

McClain is a beast, and he will be a PB player. Print that!
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I 2nd that O Dog!

Dude, I know. He is 5’9! How is the smurf going to jump up and fight for the ball. We don’t need more smurfs. We have Miller & JLH! Great, another 4.2 guy that can’t catch!

LMAO
Ford = Beast!!!

RaiderRockstar

I 2nd that O Dog!

***

you cant teach O Dog new tricks

Jimbo

Throw all Campbells off the roster too.

Thec07

Cables hand picked players are complete flops across the board. The cable gradkowski connection has been irrevocably and utterly exposed for the circus freak show that it is. You cant flim flam Davis, and heads are gonna roll.

++++++++++++++++++=

ROFLMAO….Both qb’s suck however, this was funny….

DKnight007

Gotta go with Campbell the rest of the year and hope for the best basically.

This 2nd Charger game is a MUST win actually. Hope the coaches and players can get pumped and motivated to try and sweep these clowns this year.

The O-Line and D-Lines need to play better when it comes to staying low and maintaining leverage while playing physical to run block better and penetrate and fill the gaps. They may have to move Huff to corner or something versus Bolts also. Have Mitchell cover Gates.

The coaches need to get their heads out their azzes also and they need to get in players faces and challenge them to step it up this week or the chances of making playoffs will be over just like that!

DMAC

Grads and Campbell both s_uck, but they’re fairly garbage w/ Jacoby Ford giving them a hand.

I was watching McClain most of the game yesterday, and he was doing great. He us very smart, huge, and has above avg speed. He is all over the field. He adjusts the players on the field, and he makes plays. He will never be a P Willis, but he can be a great MLB fir the next decade. Much better than Kirk, and has more potential. Great pick,!

Gradkowski doesn’t even belong in the NFL. He should be working in a garage somewhere in Pennsylvania.

Thec07

The Real Ray Says:
November 29th, 2010 at 9:48 am
Thec, I agree…….Ford was a waste of a draft pick! lol

+++++++++++++++

You know what is funny, I took a lot of heat from guys in the blog concerning JFORD…they were right…lol

DMAC

# Raider O Says:
November 29th, 2010 at 9:48 am

RR,

I was watching McClain most of the game yesterday, and he was doing great. He us very smart, huge, and has above avg speed. He is all over the field. He adjusts the players on the field, and he makes plays. He will never be a P Willis, but he can be a great MLB fir the next decade. Much better than Kirk, and has more potential. Great pick,!
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I 2nd that O Dog!

oh boy, for all the grads supporters, who threw jc under the bus for one reason or another. and we know who you are, you got your reward yesterday!!!!gradkowski is just what every other team who had him on their roster and cut him, thought he is!!! gradkowski stinks…there is no redemption for him, he has zero arm, none.. don’t even try to make excuses (he was rusty, the line didn’t block, they blitzed him etc etc.. the man sucks period. and now that we have thrown jason under the bus to pump grads up we have no quaterback..